COOLANGATTA,
Queensland,
Australia (Wednesday,
February
18,
2026)
– Today,
the
World
Surf
League
announced
that
Kiwi
surfer
Billy
Stairmand
(NZL)
will
accept
a
wildcard
spot
into
the
upcoming
New
Zealand
Pro,
stop
No.
4
of
the
2026
WSL
Championship
Tour
(CT),
which
will
run
at
Manu
Bay
Raglan
from
May
15
–
25.
Raglan
local
Stairmand
is
a
9-time
New
Zealand
National
Champion,
a
two-time
Olympian,
and
a
stalwart
of
the
WSL
Challenger
Series.
The
super
sharp
natural
footer
has
been
honing
his
backhand
on
the
walls
of
Raglan
for
over
two
decades,
and
in
May,
he
will
pull
on
the
jersey
in
the
biggest
event
of
his
career
in
front
of
a
hometown
crowd.
He
will
receive
the
WSL
Wildcard
as
the
highest-ranked
New
Zealand
surfer
on
the
Challenger
Series
rankings.
“This
is
crazy
and
really
surreal
for
me,
and
I’ve
been
pretty
emotional
since
getting
the
news,”
Stairmand
said.
“I’ve
been
on
the
QS
and
Challenger
Series
for
over
15
years
now,
knocking
on
the
door
of
the
Championship
Tour
and
have
come
close
a
few
times.
But
now,
to
get
that
opportunity
and
for
it
to
be
at
home,
in
my
backyard
and
in
front
of
all
of
my
friends,
family,
community
and
country,
is
such
a
huge
honour
and
privilege.
I’ve
been
dreaming
of
competing
on
the
CT,
and
to
do
it
at
home
is
just
crazy.”
Stairmand
will
take
the
WSL
Wildcard
for
the
event,
but
there
will
be
two
more
locals
to
join
the
draw,
with
the
men’s
and
women’s
winners
of
the
upcoming
local
event,
The
Backdoor
King
and
Queen
of
The
Point,
also
gaining
a
spot
in
the
main
event.
With
these
three
spots,
it
will
be
the
biggest
ever
representation
of
New
Zealand
surfers
in
a
Championship
Tour
event.
“The
Championship
Tour
coming
to
New
Zealand
is
such
a
huge
opportunity
for
everyone,
not
only
to
compete
for
a
spot
in
the
main
event
but
to
see
the
world’s
best
up
close
and
in
waves
they
get
to
surf,”
Stairmand
continued.
“That
does
so
much
for
a
young
aspiring
surfer,
so
this
is
such
a
big
deal
for
all
New
Zealanders.
It’s
really
exciting
that
there
will
be
three
kiwis
in
the
event,
and
this
trials
event
will
be
a
big
one.
Raglan
is
a
beautiful
little
town
with
amazing
waves,
so
I’m
so
stoked
to
see
the
world’s
best
get
to
experience
this
place,
as
well
as
for
all
of
the
kids
to
meet
their
heroes
and
see
the
world’s
best
surfing
go
down
in
New
Zealand.
It’s
going
to
be
an
amazing
experience
for
all
of
the
community,
and
I
can’t
wait.”
“WSL
is
thrilled
to
offer
Raglan
local
and
9
x
New
Zealand
Champion
Billy
Stairmand
a
local
wildcard
spot
in
the
upcoming
New
Zealand
Pro
Championship
Tour
event,”
said
WSL
APAC
President
Andrew
Stark.
“Billy
is
an
amazing
talent
who
has
been
competing
at
an
elite
level
for
15
years
now,
so
to
see
him
make
his
CT
debut
at
his
home
break
in
front
of
his
local
community
and
country
will
be
amazing.
Knowing
what
we
know
about
the
Kiwi
surfing
community,
the
entire
country
will
get
behind
not
only
Billy
but
the
other
two
locals
who
will
get
spots
in
the
main
event
through
the
trials.
It
will
be
a
really
special
moment
for
New
Zealand
surfing
and
sport
in
general.”
“Billy’s
wildcard
is
thoroughly
deserved,”
said
Surfing
New
Zealand
CEO
Ben
Kennings.
“From
representing
New
Zealand
at
two
Olympic
Games
to
claiming
nine
national
titles,
his
most
recent
being
this
year,
Billy
has
consistently
set
the
benchmark
for
excellence,
and
he
is
an
inspiration
to
so
many
Kiwi
groms.
To
now
see
him
take
on
the
world’s
best
will
be
incredibly
special
and
highlights
what’s
possible
for
any
young
New
Zealander.
We
can’t
wait
to
see
him
harness
the
energy
of
his
home
crowd
as
he
goes
head-to-head
with
the
world’s
best.”
As
part
of
the
50th
Year
of
Crowning
World
Champions,
the
New
Zealand
Pro
will
run
at
Manu
Bay
Raglan
from
May
15
–
25,
2026. The
New
Zealand
Pro
is
proudly
supported
by
the
New
Zealand
Government’s
$40
million
Events
Attraction
Package.
Go to Surfing New Zealand
Author: Ben Kennings